UIHelijet 'Doctor Helicopter', Lifesaver in Medical Blind Spots

4,101 Dispatches from 2016 to January This Year

Doctor helicopter dispatched for emergency patient transport (Photo by Ajou University Hospital)

The UI Helijet doctor helicopter, which has been dispatched over 4,000 times in the Chungnam, Jeonbuk, and Gyeonggi regions, recalls the most memorable incident occurring around April 20 last year. Following a factory explosion accident in Pyeongtaek City, Mr. A (36 years old, male), who had his right lower limb amputated and was in a coma with severe bleeding, was transported by a 119 paramedic team. Within 29 minutes of the transport request, the doctor helicopter, carrying one doctor and one nurse, was dispatched. Onboard, emergency measures including laryngeal mask insertion and Ambu bagging were performed, intravenous access was secured, and a pressure bandage was applied, enabling rapid transfer to Ajou University Hospital Regional Trauma Center. Emergency surgery on the right femoral artery and vein saved this precious life, and the patient recovered health to the point of wheelchair mobility before being discharged.

UI Helijet operates doctor helicopters in three regions: Gyeonggi, Chungnam, and Jeonbuk, and has successfully conducted over 4,000 doctor helicopter transports from 2016 through January 2024. It continues to play a vital role in saving the lives of critically ill emergency patients not only in medically underserved areas of Gyeonggi, Chungnam, and Jeonbuk but also throughout these regions.

[Photo: Number of Doctor Helicopter Dispatches and Patient Transfers (Source: Ajou University Hospital, Dankook University Hospital, Wonkwang University Hospital)]

The doctor helicopter stands by for dispatch during daytime hours from sunrise to sunset. When a transport request is made from medically underserved areas to hospitals, field rescuers, or the 119 control center, the flight control office assesses the patient's condition and aviation weather to determine the mission. One doctor and one nurse board the helicopter to respond to the accident site.

The medium-sized doctor helicopter AW-169 can carry up to 10 people, including two pilots. Inside the helicopter, medical equipment such as a ventilator and over 30 types of medicines are stocked, making it known as the "emergency room in the sky" capable of treating critically ill patients.

Jang Gun, CEO of UI Helijet, stated, "Since 2016, starting with the Chungnam and Jeonbuk regions and expanding to Gyeonggi and two other areas, we have conducted over 4,000 patient transports to save lives in medically underserved emergency situations. We will continue to operate the doctor helicopter in close cooperation with transport personnel to ensure safe patient transfers."

Jung Kyung-won, Director of the Gyeonggi Southern Regional Trauma Center, said, "An annual helicopter transport count of 375 means about one transport per day, moving critically ill emergency patients by helicopter. I deeply thank the medical staff who have saved countless lives on the brink of death, as well as the Gyeonggi Fire Department, UI Helijet, and the aviation medical team." He added, "We will continue to work closely with fire authorities and local medical institutions to ensure that critically ill emergency and trauma patients in southern Gyeonggi always receive timely medical care."

Meanwhile, UI Helijet performs various missions including VIP transport, wildfire helicopter operations, and aerial filming. In particular, to save the lives of emergency patients in medically underserved areas, it has been conducting patient transports in three regions?Chungnam, Jeonbuk, and Gyeonggi?since 2016.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.